Work moving apparatus



Dec. 15, 1970 J. J. RAMGE 3,546 324 WORK MOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6,1968 INVENTOR JOSEPH J. RA

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,546,824 WORK MOVING APPARATUS Joseph J.Ramge, 1495 Fairholme Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. 48236 Filed Dec.6, 1968, Ser. No. 781,839 Int. Cl. B24b 19/00 U.S. Cl. 51-225 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A metal working machine useful in toolforming, grinding, polishing, refluting and similar operations in whichthe work must be accurately moved along a predetermined path relative toa cutter, grinding wheel, polishing wheel, or the like and whichincludes improved struc ture for reliably holding the work in apivotally moved position. A pair of members which are adjusted todetermine a pivotally moved position of the work are held in adjustedpositions by the coaction of firmly engaged inclined surfaces on themembers and a locking member positioned therebetween.

This invention is an improvement of the structure shown in applicantsprior Pat. No. 3,066,456. Apparatus of the type to which this inventionrelates involves a precision movement of the work relative to thegrinding wheel, or the like, and consequently it is essential that thework follow a pre-established path on the machine during each workoperation. Thus when the work is initially set up in a certain positionrelative to an axis, it must be reliably maintained in this positionduring its movement on the machine.

Accordingly, this invention provides structure which insures that thework will be maintained in an initially adjusted position during itsmovement. In the machine shown in the aforementioned patent, the work isadjustable about a horizontal axis and is maintained in an adjustedposition by the simple expedient of tightening certain nuts. In themachine of this invention, the middle slide unit which controls workmovement is secured directly to the body member on which the work is supported. A depending member on the middle slide member is adjustablyattached to a motion transmitting member on the lower slide unit by apivot pin which is located on the horizontal axis. Seats on thedepending and support members cooperate with a locking member on thepivot pin to positively maintain the body member in an adjusted positionrelative to the horizontal adjustment axis.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide improvedapparatus of the above described type.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the work moving apparatus ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of theapparatus of this invention as seen from substantially the line 3-3 inFIG. 2;

. FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the drive for the work inthe apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 5" is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus ofthis invention as seen from substantially the line 55 in FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawing, the improved work moving apparatus ofthis invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 asincluding a main frame 12 on which an elongated main slide 14 ismounted.

The work which is to be moved in the apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG.1 as an end mill 16 which is supported in a body member 18. The bodymember 18 is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame 14and is also mounted for adjustable pivotal movement relative to ahorizontal axis, indicated at 20 in FIGS. 3 and 5. Secured to andprojecting from one side of the body member 18 is a housing 22 for amiddle slide unit 24 which includes a horizontal guideway unit 26 whichcan incorporate suitable anti-friction means and is disposedperpendicular to the slide 14. A plate 28 is slidably supported on theunit 26 and is secured, as shown in FIG. 4, to opposite ends 30 of aflexible drive member 32 which extends about pulleys 34 in the housing22 and the body member 18 for rotating the work 16 in response tomovement of the plate 28 longitudinally of the unit 26, as explained indetail in the aforementioned patent.

An actuating slide unit 36, which includes an elongated slide 38 and aplate 40 supported on the slide 38 for sliding movement thereon, ismounted on a support member 42 rotatably mounted on the frame 12 andadjustable relative thereto in response to actuation of a drive unit 43.The drive unit 43 is operable to rotate the support 42 so as to adjustthe inclination of the slide 38 relative to the slide 14 and the unit26. An actuating lever 44 is pivotally supported at one end 46 on themain frame 12 and intermediate its ends, the lever 44 engages the plate40 in the actuating slide unit 36. As a result, movement of the lever 44is operable to move the plate 40 back and forth along the slide 38.

An upwardly extending motion transmitting member 50 is secured to theplate 40 add extended upwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 5. A dependingmember 52 on the plate 2-8 extends through the housing 22 and ispositioned adjacent the member 50 as shown in FIG. 5. Each of themembers 50 and 52 is formed with a seat 54 having inclined surfaces andpositioned so that the seats 54 are in a facing relation and the axis 20extends therethrough. A pivot pin 56, which in this case is a screw, ispositioned on the axis 20 and extended through the seats 54. A lockingmember 58 is positioned on the pin 56 and is positioned with inclinedsurfaces 60 which are complementary to the inclined surfaces on theseats 54. A head 62 on one end of the pin 56 engages the member 50 andthreads 64 on the opposite end of the pin 56 are threaded into themember 52. Consequently, on tightening of the pin 56 so as to draw theseats 54 toward each other, the inclined surfaces thereon are tightlyengaged with the surfaces 60 on the locking member 58. As a result, whenthe seats 54 are drawn toward each other, relative movement of themembers 50 and 52 is positively precluded. However, on loosening of thepin 56, the members 50 and 52 are readily moved relative to each otherto adjust the position of the work 16 relative to the axis 20.

In the operation of the apparatus 10, when the lever 44 is moved to movethe plate 40 along the slide 38, the plate 28 is moved on the unit 26and the body member 18 is moved on the slide unit 14, the relativemagnitudes of such movements being dependent upon the inclination of theslide 38 relative to the guideway unit 26. In response to movement ofthe plate 28 on the unit 26, the work 16 is rotated by the flexibledrive member 32, as explained in detail in the aforementioned patent.When it is desired to adjust the position of the work 16 relative to theaxis 20, for a particular work operation, the pin 56 is loosened, andthe housing 22 is manually manipulated so as to move the member 52relative to the member 50 and about the axis 20. As soon as a desiredposition of the work 16 is attained, the pin 56 is again tightened so asto draw the seats 54 into firm engagement with the inclined surfaces 60on the locking member 58. When so engaged, relative movement of themembers 50 and 52 is positively precluded so as to insure precisionoperation of the apparatus 10.

It will be understood that the work moving apparatus which is hereindisclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation andillustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention,the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described which includes a main frameand a work moving unit mounted on said main frame for adjustable pivotalmovement relative to an axis, a first member carried by said unit andintersecting said axis, a second member carried by said main frame andintersecting said axis at a position adjacent said first member, meansforming facing seats in said members, a pivot pin disposed substantiallyon said axis and extending through said seats, a locking member on saidpin seated in said seats, and means on said pin operable to draw saidseats tightly against said locking member to maintain said members infixed relative positions.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said seats and said lockingmember have complementary inclined surfaces which are engaged when saidseats are moved toward each other.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said means on said pinincludes a head engaged with one of said members and threads engagedwith the other one of said members.

4. In work moving apparatus which includes a main frame, a mainhorizontal slide on said main frame, a

housing adapted to support work and mounted for sliding' movement alongsaid slide and for adjustable movement about a horizontal axis relativeto said slide, a middle slide unit secured to said housing and extendingperpendicular to said main slide, an actuating slide unit adjustablymounted on said main frame for movement to a position inclined withrespect to said main slide and said middle slide unit, a pair of memberson said middle and actuating slides positioned so as to intersect saidaxis, means on said members forming facing seats, a pivot pin positionedsubstantially on said axis and'extending through said seats, and alocking member on said pivot pin positioned between and engaged withsaid seats, said pivot pin being operable to move said seats toward eachother into locking engagement with said locking member.

5. Work moving apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said seats havesurfaces inclined with respect to said axis and said locking member hassimilarly inclined surfaces engaged with said seat surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,974 3/1953 Green 51-225X2,795,091 6/1957 Umbdenstock 51-95'X 3,200,540 8/1965 Lavallee 5l-225XTHERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

